New Gecko Species Found in Vietnam's Threatened Karst Caves

A recent biological investigation in northwestern Vietnam has resulted in the discovery of two previously unknown species of half-leaf fingered geckos: Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri and Hemiphyllodactylus pakhaensis. These unique reptiles were found inhabiting the Steep Limestone Mountains in Son La Province, adding to the 12 known species of Hemiphyllodactylus in Vietnam and underscoring the area's significant biodiversity.

The discovery arrives amid urgent calls for conservation measures to protect Vietnam's endangered evolutionary resources. The geckos' specific karst ecosystem faces severe threats from rapid habitat fragmentation and degradation, primarily driven by road construction and illegal logging. Without swift protection, these newly identified species risk extinction.

Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri is known only from the Copia Nature Reserve, a small area of approximately 50 square kilometers. Despite its protected status, the reserve experiences anthropogenic pressures from development projects and timber harvesting. Scientists utilized integrative taxonomy, combining morphological and molecular data, to classify these geckos as distinct species.

Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri is named in honor of Professor Dr. Thomas Ziegler for his extensive work in Southeast Asian wildlife research and conservation. The identification of these species, alongside a growing number of Hemiphyllodactylus discoveries globally, signifies Vietnam's importance for herpetological research and points to the potential for further undocumented cryptic diversity within the country's remote limestone regions.